Owen Daniels placed on short-term I.R.

Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels (81) runs with the ball after making a catch against the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Texans 34-3. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

It didn’t seem like he suffered a severe injury at first glance, but Houston Texans TE Owen Daniels has been placed on the short-term I.R. in a huge blow  for Texans fans and fantasy owners alike. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Owen Daniels is now on the injured reserve with a designation to return, and the injury seems to be more serious than thought. It was reported yesterday by ESPN NFL Nation’s Tania Ganguli that Daniels would miss 4-6 weeks with a fractured fibula.

The fact that Owen Daniels will be out for at least eight weeks now is just devastating news for the Texans, and Matt Schaub’s life just got that much harder. In the midst of easily his worst season, Daniels has been a real safety valve in the middle of the field for Schaub. In fact, Daniels has been the best pass-catcher on the Texans during the past two games with a combined 12 receptions for 132 yards. That sort of solid production every game will be missed, and Daniels is one of the best tight ends in the league at moving the chains.

At least Garrett Graham is a solid backup, and he should do a decent job filling in for Daniels. However, both Schaub and the Texans offense will feel the loss of Owen Daniels, and this is certainly a significant injury. Eight weeks is a long time, and he is set to miss key games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, and New England Patriots.

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